Paula Deen Should Probably Just Own It

Editor: Tef Poe is an artist from St. Louis city. Through powerful imagery and complicated honesty, he has earned a reputation as one of the best rappers telling the story of St. Louis, which is about much more than one place. Poe has been featured in music publications such as XXL and Urb Magazine. His project The Hero Killer was released on January 21 and will be followed up by a full-length with DJ Burn One entitled Cheer For the Villain. Follow him on twitter @tefpoe. Get The Hero Killerhere.

I hate talking about race-related issues in this column, because the Internet is overflowing with Keyboard Nazis and Macbook Klansmen. Basically these types of people say ridiculously racist stuff online, but in real life they're all a bunch of wimps. Perhaps surprisingly, I actually respect and admire real-life full-blown racists who live it and talk it. I'm an extremist, so if you're going to be a racist I figure you might as well be a full-time, fully dedicated champion of the cause.

In a weird, twisted way I have some type of respect for people who stand on their beliefs against all odds, even if their beliefs are centered in killing people that look like me. Hypothetically speaking, let's say I move into a house in Chesterfield or O'Fallon, and a few douches take it upon themselves to brick my windows and not reveal their faces. This gets zero respect in my book, but somehow, some kind of way, I have a ounce of respect for the lifelong Aryan Nation member that will hang me from a tree and and videotape themselves setting my body on fire.

I am more annoyed by the fake-ass subliminal racism than I am by the blatant in-your-face racism. I mean, give me a fair warning before you shoot me. And if you must kill me, look me in my eye while you're doing it. I respect this to a degree, even though I feel like any diehard racist is a complete maniac.This brings us to the subject of Paula Deen.

I'm sure by now you've heard a thousand different stories about what has taken place. Basically, an old fat white lady from the South got famous via the Food Network for cooking fried chicken and collard greens. These recipes are probably hand-me-downs from Aunt Jemima and the rest of the house slaves hoarded over the course of time. Initially, when Deen's remarks went viral I wondered,"What is the big deal?" She's an old Caucasian lady from the South, so she's probably dropped her fair share of N-bombs. I wouldn't expect anything less. I didn't think this was newsworthy whatsoever.

If her saying the N-word shocked you, then you, my friend, live in a different and far more unrealistic world than the rest of us. I kinda-sorta gave her a pass when the story leaked, and the first thing I heard about were the N-bomb accusations. I naturally automatically assumed she had some ancient klansmen in her blood, given the fact that she's basically on national TV cooking sharecropper delights. And for the record, I'm sick and tired of racist mugs marginalizing their racism by hiding behind the minutia of the "who can and can't say the N-word" debate.

On the real, if you intend on using the word in a racist context, just own up to it and stop it with the "why can black people say it" back-and-forth crap. This is probably the most childish intellectual argument of all time. When a white person ponders why black people can say the N-word and they can't, this almost always makes the person sound racist, even if they aren't. It's not a smart counter, so just leave it alone. From the jump, when you call a person that word, you fully intended to do so.

Most white people don't give a damn about the word "cracker" because the word "cracker" ultimately doesn't stop the world from spinning. Well, the same thing goes for the N-word, in my book. She can cry all she wants on TV and issue all the Youtube apologies in the world. The reality of the situation is that the public ridicule she's receiving from this incident is, more than likely, secretly making her and her family even less understanding about their perspective concerning race, slavery, and all other things attached to this subject. To put it another way, if she is racist, then it's probably making her more racist to be attacked like this.

It's bigger than her saying the N-word, and I wouldn't have cared much if that was the end of it. She has one of the best PR teams in the world, so they naturally made it seem like people are turned up about her saying the N-word one time in life.That's a blatant lie as well, because we all know the N-word is one of those infectious words you just can't say once. If you've said it once then you've likely said it a thousand times, because it feels good rolling out the lips. It's a heavy word, but people wouldn't use it so much if it didn't sound so melodic when spoken. So, Paula Deen, we all know you're lying about hardly ever using the word.

But I have better things to worry about. I've also accepted the fact that my ancestors were slaves, so this means someone else's ancestors had to be the slave masters. I've accepted the fact that most people, including black people (not just white people), really aren't capable of understanding the brutality attached to the enslavement of African Americans. I'm black myself, and I don't even completely understand slavery. So for me it's a given that somebody like Paula Deen is more than likely totally ignorant toward this subject. If I moved next door to her I automatically expect her to look out the blinds and say, "Hey, there's a bunch of n*ggers moving into the house next door." Is this extreme? Yes. Is this brutally honest? Yes. We live in America, and you know the rest. People need to just be honest about racism sometimes. The '60s weren't that long ago. My mother had to drink out of colored water fountains, and my grandmother worked on a plantation. They're both still alive. The people on the opposite side of the fence that were allowed to drink from the clean water fountains and didn't have to work on the plantations are also still alive.

Never have I gone back in any of my posts. Never mentioned feelings hurt, only if it pertained to me. It's on public record now- I hope you have a secure job working for other people like yourself. Because publicly- you've spewed hate speech and blatant racism. Ask Paula Deen how that worked out for her. Hopefully you become a more loving and kind person..... your hatred is very sad.

Georgia.. well said. Kelle, law suits are not meant for people who got their feelings hurt. Wipe your vagina its leaking right now. I am very proud to be white. I guess if for some reason in the future if I need to find a new job and a black person gets hired just because they are a minority, I should start a law suit??? Blacks are no longer a minority. Just for you to have the correct information here is the definition of minority : 3.smaller socially defined group: a group of people, within a society, whose members have different ethnic, racial, national, religious, sexual, political, linguistic, or other characteristics from the rest of society. Blacks are not a smaller group of society any longer. and by the correct definition of minority, if we jump back into history like you have done in several of your post, most of us would all be considered a minority.

wow!!! Joanna has to jump back in history.. Welcome to 2013, we don't own slaves anymore. Get the hell over it, you were not a slave so quit trying to use the past to excuse the present and future behavior. Instead of always trying to throw out the race card to get ahead, how about you go to school, don't get pregnant 12 times for more food stamps, and get a job.

First of all there is nothing wrong with having white pride just as there is nothing wrong with having black pride, Latin pride, Asian pride etc. All of your comments are hypocritical, it is ok to call white people racial slurs and despite what you think they are racial slurs but not ok for anyone else.
The reason there are no cases for discrimination against whites is simply we don't care. Words don't tend to bother us that much.
I grew up in the inner city and went to public schools so there is nothing you can say that I already don't know. I have had opportunities slip by simply because of my white skin, priority was given to minorities. My child is unable to go to a decent school because we live in the city and she is white, the deseg program is only for black students. I guess in your eyes that isn't racist. Maybe it is time for us white people to start making our voices heard and speak out against inequality.
If you are stupid enough to use the example to Kanye West it might do you some good to research your info a little better. Kanye is NOT married!!!!!!! His mother in law is NOT white.
YOU are by far the most racist person I have seen commenting on these posts.
You just don't get it and thats truly sad.

Tammy Brown- you have made yourself crystal clear that you have white pride!! I would be interested in the discrimination cases that have won (seriously I am) that were due to a person being called a cracker during employment. I personally- have not been called a cracker. If I were- it would hurt my feelings because that person doesn't know me- and what I stand for. It by no means would insult me racially-- more to not know that they called a name that I would not be deserving of. Calling someone a cracker- typically stems to a person like yourself. Someone who is racist and bigoted. News flash- Paul Deen has been fired from a major cable network for discrimination and obvious racist behavior. I LOVE hip hop. The word is not used in a derogatory sense. I am so lucky to have grown up in such a colorful school and neighborhood and have established a different view on the world because of it. I have traveled the world and see the beauty of ALL people and the shades of cultural diversity. Kanye West is just one person.... he is married to someone outside his race, who has a white mother-in-law. It's extremely different!! I agree with Kanye about George W!! Now- you've made yourself clear---- you just don't see how hateful you sound. It's ok! I'm just astonished at your blatant racism- it's 2013. The problems are because of people like yourself. You just don't get it, and that is truly very sad.

Kelle Goering, I guess you are ok with the black rap artist who use racial slurs against white people as well??? They should not be found just as guilty as paula deen?? I guess they are just expressing themselves so that is ok with you.

What happened to innocent until proven guilty... oh wait, this is about the poor black people needing to rise above all this racial tyranny... Im thinking that maybe we should go back to white business and black business and separate schools and churches ect.. just so no one gets their feelings hurt by one little word..

Kelle Goering, anyone at any point in time can file a law suit against anyone. If a black person says the word cracker or cracka in the media then it is ok by you? How about when Kayne made his comments??? I guess those are ok by you?

Is it a nice word? Of course not. Is it meant to insult a person? Of course it is. However, so is the word doo doo head. If I called you a doo doo head would it make the news?? Of course not. Why? - It is meant as an insult. When we are children it's a huge deal. But as we grow up (and hopefully more intelligent) we no longer give that phrase the power to affect us. So let's stop focusing so much attention on a stupid word and that word will no longer hold the power it did before. This is basic stuff here.

It really doesnt matter how many times she said it. Bottom line is .. She is white so anything she says would be considered racist. Now how about the black man stating that if George Zimmerman was aquitted that all black people should riot... really??? How about the black people who use racism every time they dont get what they want??? Let a white person try this, it wont fly. Maybe, Just maybe if the black people would stop the whole racism card and use that effort into bettering themselves and their families they would not have extra time on their hands to be so offended...

I still think its funny that people like you still think she only said it once and just over 20 years ago. if you are REALLY that daft... (just an FYI, the lawsuit contains her spouting several racial epithets up to as recent as 2007, including segregation along with her brother and her sons friend who helps run LAdy and SOns. Black people have to use different doors. (just so you know this is all recorded in a deposition) it might be a double standard, im sure .. hOWEVER, if you are in the public view, with a job like hers, you seriously need to watch what you say. Rush Limbaugh isnt losing sponsors left and right because he loves women, you know. and it certainly isnt over some disparaging slanderous remarks he said about women 20 years ago.

Rachel, I agree that city's in general are compartmentalized but STL has held its original lines much longer than most larger cities including Chicago and New York. (Notable exceptions in both cities) I make no excuses as I grew up on Russell and Tower Grove. Lived around Grand on the Southside two areas that have seen much decline. There are shity areas in stl that cross racial lines both white and black. But to simplify areas as shity or non shity and claim that racial lines do not exist is burying ones head in the sand. Racism is a problem for ALL races. There is a line between understanding and appreciating ones culture and heritage and feeling your race is better. Many many people of all races have made leaps in advancing their own selves, in my opinion, concerning race. Yet for this issue to be on forefront in the American populace means that we are reaching a point where even the racist hiding under "cultural heritage" is really hitting a nerve. In my humble opinion. I know many wont understand my enthusiasm but I see this as the death throws of racism. It will probably take several more generations to be more fully realized but this generation will not allow it and the Holden will reap the benefits. Just as we enjoy the benefits of Martin Luther King and Woman's suffrage movements.

Carol Castro, most large cities are compartmentalized. Chicago, NY, San Francisco, etc all have a Little China, Little Italy and such and I'm not buying the bad areas are because if economic reasons. I grew up in the city and we were far from rich. It costs next to nothing to keep your neighborhood clean and costs nothing to speak up when you see illegal activity going down. Why make excuses for bad behavior?

im not a nigger or a nigga...no matter what color skin they in who says it...so im not offended either way...I cant harp over other ppl mistakes...don't know the whole story and not interested...soon as I heard the n-word was said I knew it wasn't about me...so I went on about my day...you may not like what she said but lets keep it moving ppl...her mistake her problem...

I think a word is only as powerful as we allow it to be. That word is no more derogatory than any other meant as an insult... Yet it is the only one that gets this much attention. If PD has said white trash, or bitch, or slut, would it have demanded this sort if attention?- doubtful. And why? These words are meant to have the same negative effect. Stop giving the word nigger so much power!!! The sooner people stop over reacting to 2 syllables, the sooner that word loses its power

Steve I moved out of saint louis 7 years ago. Big realization St Louis is VERY compartmentalized. The Hill, north side south side lil china lil Bosnia And its ALL along racial lines. The "shity" areas just also happen to be the lower social economic populace both white and black.

Okay that's it. I am deleting you off my likes because I don't like you anymore. You really have nothing better to do but to talk about this shit then fuck you. Everyone that's tired of hearing this should delete them too.

Not to mention- it is illegal to discriminate for specific reasons. Race, creed, religion, gender, marital status, nationality, age, origin and in some states sexual preference. It's a law for a reason

people just need to get the hell over this! what's said has been said.NOT ONLY by Paula deen by each of us everyday..honkey,cracker,nigger,nigga, has been said by every race.stop playing the damn race card!! no one owe's anyone a damn thing.YOU owe it to yourself to have a life of happiness and weed out disrespectful ignorant people.

Seems the only people who have a problem with this unfolding and Paula Deen's racist beliefs being exposed... are the people who themselves have a problem with those that are not "their kind". It's a RED state here in Missouri. Except in larger cities and college towns. Interesting isn't it? Because its true. Racism exists- and those like myself have evolved away from it. Do the right thing.

"That's an extremely shallow perspective of socioeconomics." ya...it's shallow...because that's as deep as it needs to be. is that "root cause" enough for you? north city is a hell hole. nobody wants to go to college and get a job and live in north city.

And hey Tammy and Brian... OF COURSE 'white racial slurs' are not nearly as offensive. If you can't understand why that is, you're part of the problem, not part of the solution. It's a matter of who was owned and who was the owner. This is a complicated, ugly part of our country's history, and yea, it wasn't 'soooooo last week' but that doesn't make it ANY less important.